Question

Mimi and Rita both plan to run for a spot on the school

board in their city. They must each collect a certain
number of signatures to get their name on the ballot. So
far, Mimi has 30 signatures, but Rita just started and
doesn't have any yet. Mimi is collecting signatures at an
average rate of 8 per hour, while Rita can get 14
signatures every hour. Assuming that their rate of
collection stays the same, eventually the two will have
collected the same number of signatures. How many
signatures will they both have?
Create two tables showing hours and signatures. Write,
graph, and solve a system of equations for this situation.
Explain what your solution means for the situation.

Answer 1

The equal number of signatures Mimi and Rita eventually collects are 70 signatures

Explanation:

1) The initial number of signatures Mimi has = 30 Signatures

The average rate at which Mimi can collect signatures = 8 signatures per hour

The average rate at which Rita can collect signatures = 14 signatures per hour

The table of values showing the number of signatures Mimi and Rita can have at a given hour is presented as follows;

For Mimi, we have;

Hour
`{}` Number of Signatures

0
`{}` 30

1
`{}` 38

2
`{}` 46

3
`{}` 54

4
`{}` 62

5
`{}` 70

For Rita, we have;

Hour
`{}` Number of Signatures

0
`{}` 0

1
`{}` 14

2
`{}` 28

3
`{}` 42

4
`{}` 56

5
`{}` 70

2) The equation representing the number of signatures Mimi has at a given time, t, is given as follows;

The number of signatures Mimi has = 30 + 8 × t

The equation representing the number of signatures Rita has at a given time, t, is given as follows;

The number of signatures Rita has = 14 × t

3) Please find attached the required graph of the number of signatures Mimi and Rita has

4) The solution if the system of equations is given as follows;

30 + 8 × t = 14 × t

From which we have;

30 = 14 × t - 8 × t = 6 × t

t = 30/6 = 5 Hours

By substituting t = 5 hours in the above equations, the equal number of signature of signatures Mimi and Rita can have is therefore;

30 + 8 × 5 = 70 signatures = (14 × 5) signatures

The equal number of signatures Mimi and Rita eventually collects are 70 signatures

5) The meaning of the solution is that is Mimi and Rita continue collecting signatures at their respective constant rate of 8 and 14 signatures per hour, given that Mimi already has 30 signatures, they will have the same number of 70 signatures after 5 hours